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“One of the objections to the bills I had, was obviously cost, but all the studies and all other states have shown that juvenile (court) systems save states literally tens of millions of dollars,” Hall told the commission.

Prior bills to change the age statewide failed, Hall said, but professional police organizations and also North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin now support the idea.

Some commission members voiced objections.

Caswell and Person counties district attorney Wallace Bradsher expressed concerns about placing 16- and 17-year-olds who are “hardened gang members” in the same system as 14- and 15-year-olds who commit lower-level crimes.

“To me, 16 and 17 is a dangerous, transitional age,” Bradsher said. “There isn’t enough resources in the juvenile court system to address the 16- and 17-year-olds who are well-developed and more criminally experienced than just the 16- or 17-year-old high school student that makes a youthful mistake.”

Rep. Sarah Stevens, a Surry County Republican, said the proposal generally focuses on misdemeanors – except impaired-driving and traffic violations – and nonviolent felonies like drug possession and break-ins.

Under the Dome is your inside source on North Carolina politics and government and has been a regular feature in The N&O since 1934. Check here for the latest on state and federal government, political advocacy and upcoming elections. This blog is maintained by the N&O politics staff.